Multi-Bonus Card Match Poker Game

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method includes dealing a first hand of cards for a poker game. A draw input is received for a draw for the first hand of cards. The method deals one or more cards from at least one card for an additional hand during or after the draw for the first hand of cards and determines if a card in the first hand matches a card in the additional hand. If the match is determined, the method performs: determining a bonus feature and applying the bonus feature to game play of the poker game.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No.61/429,397 for “Multi-Bonus Card Match Poker Game” filed Jan. 3, 2011,the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Particular embodiments generally relate to gaming systems and games.

The entertainment value of poker games continues to remain high. Thegaming industry continues to look for simple and exciting methods toincrease the player appeal of traditional electronic video poker gameswith and without the need to alter the traditional poker pay tables toplayers have become accustom to playing. Players continue to seekadditional entertainment opportunities and efficiencies as well as ahigher hit frequency and pays/bonuses for each game.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method includes dealing a first hand of cards for apoker game. A draw input is received for a draw for the first hand ofcards. The method deals one or more cards from at least one card for anadditional hand during or after the draw for the first hand of cards anddetermines if a card in the first hand matches a card in the additionalhand. If the match is determined, the method performs: determining abonus feature and applying the bonus feature to game play of the pokergame.

In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes one or morecomputer processors and a computer-readable storage medium comprisinginstructions for controlling the one or more computer processors to beoperable to: deal a first hand of cards for a poker game; receive a drawinput for a draw for the first hand of cards; deal one or more cardsfrom at least one card for an additional hand during or after the drawfor the first hand of cards; determine if a card in the first handmatches a card in the additional hand; if the match is determined,perform: determine a bonus feature; and apply the bonus feature to gameplay of the poker game.

In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium isprovided containing instructions for controlling a computer system to beoperable to: deal a first hand of cards for a poker game; receive a drawinput for a draw for the first hand of cards; deal one or more cardsfrom at least one card for an additional hand during or after the drawfor the first hand of cards; determine if a card in the first handmatches a card in the additional hand; if the match is determined,perform: determine a bonus feature; and apply the bonus feature to gameplay of the poker game.

The following detailed description and accompanying drawings provide abetter understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a gaming device including an interface forproviding a standard game and a match game according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts an example of an interface for providing a poker gameaccording to on embodiment.

FIG. 3 a shows an example of the interface before a draw of the pokergame according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 b shows an example of the interface after the draw of the pokergame according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a keno game according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a slot machine game according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a special purpose computer systemconfigured with a poker game according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are techniques for a match game. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, numerous examples and specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofembodiments of the present invention. Particular embodiments as definedby the claims may include some or all of the features in these examplesalone or in combination with other features described below, and mayfurther include modifications and equivalents of the features andconcepts described herein.

Particular embodiments provide a match game in which an additionalsymbol or set of symbols are provided to determine if a match occursduring game play of a game. For example, the additional symbol may be acard in a poker game, a reel symbol in a slot game, or a number in akeno game. The symbol may match other symbols being played in the game.For example, in the poker game, a card in a draw poker game may matchone of the match symbols by having the same value (King of Hearts) and acard dealt for the match symbol. The additional symbol may be output atvarious times. For example, if a game is a single stage game (the gamedoes not require a user decision after initiation), then the additionalsymbol may be output before, during, or after the initiation of thegame. If the game is a multiple stage game, the additional symbol may beoutput after a stage is initiated where further user decisions are notrequired. For example, the additional symbol is output after a userselects cards to hold and draws new cards in a five card poker game.This ensures that game play is not affected by the match symbols outputin the match game.

In one embodiment, an electronic video poker card game in which theplayer plays one or more hands of cards is provided. The player selectsone or more hands of poker to be played or the gaming device may beprogrammed with a predetermined number of hands of poker for the playerto play. The player then places a wager to play at least one hand ofpoker. If the player selects to play more than one hand of poker at atime, the player may be able to place a separate wager on each of theseparate hands of poker played or the gaming device may be programmed toapplied wagers to each of the hands of poker played in any traditionalmanner.

In an embodiment, the player may also be required to place at least onewager on at least one bonus feature associated with each hand of poker,the process of which will be described in more detail below. Dependingon the design of the bonus features and pay tables associated with thepoker games the player may be required to wager none, or one or morecredits to initiate one or more of the games bonus features.

After the player places the proper wager amount and initiates play ofthe game, at least one hand of five cards (e.g., a first hand) is dealtby the electronic video poker game all face up and one or more cards(e.g., of an additional hand) are dealt from a separate deck of cardsand displayed to the player. The one or more cards may be dealt on thesame screen as the first hand or the one or more cards may be dealt on aseparate screen associated/connected with the device displaying thefirst hand. A random or predetermined number of cards may be dealt anddisplayed to the player. The number of cards dealt may depend on variousfactors. For example, a player may be awarded cards in the additionalhand for achieving certain milestones, game outcomes or bonuses.

If the number of cards dealt for the additional hand is less than thefirst hand of cards, the position that the cards are dealt in may alsobe random. The at least one card may be dealt before or after the drawof the first hand depending on the design of the game play and the gamepay table. The at least one card may be dealt in any position selectedby the game designer on a first or second display screen. In oneembodiment, the at least one card displayed of an additional hand wouldbe dealt directly card for card below the first hand and it isdetermined that at least one of the cards in the first hand causes amatch of a card in the same position of the additional hand. The matchmay be determined based on a same card occurring in the first hand andthe additional hand (e.g., a jack of hearts in the first hand matches ajack of hearts in the second hand). The match may be based on a valueand suit of the card. Also, other matches may be determined, such as awildcard may match a card (e.g., a jack of hearts in the first handmatches a wildcard in the second hand). If the match is determined, thena random or predetermined bonus feature is determined and is applied tothe poker game. In an additional embodiment, if it is determined thatany of the cards in a first hand match any of the one or more of thecards dealt in the additional hand (not dependent on the position of thecards), then a bonus feature is determined.

The bonus feature may be used for any predetermined or random bonusfeature that may be programmed into the game. In an embodiment, theplayer may even be able to select which bonus feature or combination ofbonus features the player wishes to play for, such as a wild card,multiplier, instant win, free game, extra-draw, extra-card, etc. If itis determined that there is more than one matching cards in the firstand additional hand, the bonus feature determined for each of thematching cards may be the same, different or any combination of.

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a gaming device 100 including an interface101 for providing a standard game 110 and a match game 112 according toone embodiment. Standard game 110 may include various games of chance,such as video poker, keno, and slot machine games. Other games may alsobe provided. Standard game 110 may be played by a user using an inputdevice 114. During play of standard game 110, various game symbols maybe received, such as poker cards, keno numbers, slot symbols, etc.

During the play of standard game 110, interface 101 outputs symbols formatch game 112. The symbols for match game 112 include at least a subsetof symbols are used in the game play of standard game 110. For example,match game 112 may include a second deck of cards if a first deck ofcards is being used in standard game 110. A limited set of cards mayalso be used. Also, at least a subset of reel symbols used in a slotmachine game may also be used. The symbols for match game 112 are usedto determine a bonus feature for standard game 110 that enhances thegame play of standard game 110. For example, if one of the symbols inmatch game 112 matches a symbol received in standard game 110, then abonus feature is triggered. Different bonuses may be provided, such asmultipliers, wild cards, monetary bonuses, etc.

Standard game 110 may be played in different stages. For example, ateach stage, a user input may be required to proceed to the next stage.In a video poker game, a first hand is dealt. Input device 114 receiveshold selections from a user, and then replaces discarded cards in asecond stage of the game. In a slot machine or keno game, only one stagemay be played. That is, after initiation, the game is completed in onestage without requiring the user to input a decision for game play.

The number of stages included in standard game 110 may cause symbols formatch game 112 to be output at different times. In one embodiment,gaming device 100 outputs symbols for match game 112 so that game playduring standard game 110 is not affected. For example, the userdecisions required after initiating game play should not be affected bysymbols output by match game 112. In a video poker game, a first stageof the game deals a first set of cards to a user. Then, a user decideswhich cards to hold and draws new cards. A second stage of the gamestarts and after beginning this stage, no more user decisions arerequired. Symbols for match game 112 may then be output during or afterthe beginning of the second stage. In a slot or keno game, afterinitiating game play, user decisions that would be affected by symbolsof match game 112 are not required and thus symbols for match game 112can be output at any time before, during, or after stage one.Accordingly, symbols for match game 112 may be output at a time when thesymbols would not affect game plays or user decisions in standard game110.

FIG. 2 shows a poker game according to on embodiment. For example, instandard game 110, a first hand 102 is dealt of: the 1^(st) card dealtis a Five of hearts, the 2^(nd) card is a Queen of hearts the 3^(rd)card is a 4 of clubs, the 4^(th) card is a 7 of hearts and the 5^(th)card is a Queen of spades. In match game 112, an additional hand 104 isdealt of: the 1^(st) card dealt is a Five of hearts, the 2^(nd) card isa Queen of hearts the 3^(rd) card is a 4 of clubs, the 4^(th) card is a9 of hearts and the 5^(th) card is a Queen of spades. The followingshows the cards dealt for first hand (FH) and additional hand (AH) 104:

FH: Five of hearts, Queen of hearts, 4 of clubs, 7 of hearts, Queen ofspades

AH: Five of hearts, Queen of hearts, 4 of clubs, 9 of hearts, Queen ofspades

The above occurs after the draw of first hand 102. For example, a userreceived a set of cards in the first stage of the poker game, selectedcards to hold, and then received new cards to form first hand 102. Then,additional hand 104 is dealt after the draw.

It is determined that the 1^(st) card, 2^(nd) card, 3^(rd) card and the5^(th) card of first hand 102 match the cards in additional hand 104 sothey may now be used as bonus features. In an embodiment, it isdetermined that the second and third cards may be used as a first bonustype. For example, the first bonus type to be determined may convert acard to a Wild Card. In this example, the 2^(nd) card and the third cardmay become Wild Cards providing the player with the opportunity toreceive a four of a kind if the player holds all the cards except the4^(th) card and selects draw. In the same embodiment, it is determinedthat the two queens are matching also so they may also be used as asecond bonus type. The second bonus type to be determined may be usedbecause if the first bonus type is used again it may not provide abenefit to the play of the player. For example, the player may want tokeep both Queens because they are matching. Thus, converting the Queensinto Wild Cards may not be beneficial. Certain game rules may be appliedto determine when to award the different bonus types. The second bonustype may be another bonus feature, such as multipliers. After the drawthe player may receive a four of a kind and a 2× multiplier for thematching two queens.

In another embodiment using the same first hand and additional handabove, the bonus features may all be of the same type, such as just WildCards. In this embodiment, the player may hold the same four cards andreceive a Queen of clubs on the draw and the winning hand would be afive of a kind.

In another embodiment, the additional hand of five cards may also bedealt after the draw. FIG. 3 a shows an example of interface 101 beforethe draw according to one embodiment. The same five cards dealt above,e.g., the Five of hearts, Queen of hearts, 4 of clubs, 7 of hearts andthe Queen of spades, are dealt for first hand 102. Cards for additionalhand 104 are left blank.

In one example, the player typically would hold the two queens andselect draw. After selecting draw, new cards are dealt for first hand102 and additional hand 104 is dealt. FIG. 3 b shows an example ofinterface 100 after the draw according to one embodiment. The playerreceives the 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs and the Queen of clubs in first hand102 and receives the Five of hearts, Queen of hearts, 4 of clubs, 9 ofhearts and Queen of spades in the additional hand 104.

First hand 102 and additional hand 104 after the draw are as follows:

FH: 7 of clubs—Queen of hearts—8 of clubs—Queen of clubs—Queen of spades

AH: Five of hearts—Queen of hearts—8 of clubs—9 of hearts—Queen ofspades

In this example, there are three matching cards from the first andsecond hands of the Queen of hearts, 8 of clubs, and the Queen ofspades. In one embodiment, if the game was designed with two types ofbonus features, such as Wild Cards and Multipliers, the 8 of clubs wouldbe used as a wild and changed to the Queen of diamonds. The two matchingQueens (the 2^(th) and 5^(th) cards) would be used as Multipliers makingthe winning combination times a multiplier, such as 2×.

In another embodiment, the player selects to play at least on hand ofpoker. The player then may be required to bet the proper wager to playeach hand of poker selected and bet the proper wager for the bonusfeature. After the player places the proper wager amount and initiatesplay of the game, at least one hand of five cards (e.g., a first hand)is dealt by the electronic video poker game all face up. The player mayselect one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards tobe held or the player may select not to hold any cards. After the playerdecides to either hold or not to hold the cards, the player selectsdraw.

After the draw of the first hand is initialized and replacement cardsfor the non-selected cards are dealt into the first hand, one or morecards (e.g., of an additional hand) are dealt from a separate deck ofcards and displayed to the player. The one or more cards may be dealt onthe same screen as the first hand or may be dealt on a separate screenassociated/connected with the device displaying the first hand.

In this embodiment the at least one card from an additional deck ofcards maybe dealt during or after the draw of the first hand dependingon the design of the game play. The at least one card may be dealt inany position on a first or second display screen selected by the gamedesigner.

If it is determined that at least one of the cards dealt from theadditional hand match at least one of the cards in the first hand ofcards after the draw, then a random or predetermined bonus feature isdetermined and is applied to the poker game. In bonus award may varydepending on the number of matches in each hand played or even thecombination of match in two or more hands played.

Although a poker game is described, particular embodiments may use othergames, such as Keno and slot machine games. FIG. 4 depicts an example ofa keno game according to one embodiment. Interface 101 displays a kenogame as standard game 110. Keno displays a set of numbers 402 where 20numbers are selected. A user can select a set of numbers and if acertain amount of those numbers are in the 20 selected numbers, a prizeis won.

Match game 112 may display a set of match numbers after game play isinitiated. When a match number matches a keno game number in the kenogame, a bonus may be awarded. For example, if the user had not selectedthis matched keno game number, then the match number may become anadditional match for the user. Also, if the user had selected thematched keno game number, the matched keno game number may becomeanother match or a wild to match another of the user's numbers. Thematch may also cause a multiplier to be awarded. For example, if theuser had selected the matched keno game number, then a multiplier isawarded.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a slot machine game according to oneembodiment. Interface 101 displays the slot machine game as standardgame 110. The slot machine game may display symbols on reels504-1-504-3. Any number of reels may be provided. Depending on thecombination of symbols, a user may win a prize.

Match game 112 may display a set of symbols 506. Symbols 506 may beanother set of reels (electronic or physical). Symbols 506 may bedisplayed after game play is initiated. When symbol 506 matches a symbolreceived on reels 504-1-504-3, a bonus may be awarded. For example, onematch of symbol 506 may cause a bonus to be awarded. The match may alsobe related to position. For example, if match game 112 includes a samenumber of reels as standard game 110, then a symbol in match game 112must match and be in the same position reel.

In one embodiment, when a match occurs, the symbol that is matchedbecomes “wild” in the game. Thus, the symbol may be any symbol that canbe used to create a winning combination. The symbol that is induced tobe wild is not normally wild in the slot game. For example, without thematch, the symbol would be used by the game as its normal value (e.g., abar symbol is a bar symbol). However, when a match occurs, the gameneeds to convert the matched symbol to a wild and evaluate the receivedsymbols for a winning combination taking into account the induced wildsymbol. The gaming machine may override the symbol's value and cause itto be wild. Then, the combination of symbol values are evaluated for awinning combination. An award is then output based on the induced wild.

Having the induced wild may change the probabilities of winning for auser. For example, odds of receiving a match in addition to receiving awinning combination are taken into account. Traditionally, just the oddsof receiving a winning combination of a set number of symbols are usedto determine the probabilities of winning However, a second probabilityof obtaining a match is introduced that changes the probabilities ofreceiving a winning combination.

In a further embodiment for use in various games described, a playerreceives a match from a primary game and one or more symbols that areused in order to create the match bonus. When a player receives amatching outcome the wild symbol, bonus, multipliers, etc. may beapplied to the next game. This is an added benefit to the game andoperator of any game using this feature by providing a reason for theplayer to continue playing the game. For example, if the player receivesa match that provides the player with a multiplier or a wild card, thatmultiplier or wild card can be applied to the next game. This providesan incentive for the player to play again. Also, based on the number ofmatched symbols a player receives at the end of the primary game mayalso determine the number of games the bonus feature (e.g., free play,extra spins, bonus credits, wild symbols, multiplier to be applied towinning outcomes, etc.) are applied to. For example, if the playerreceives two matches, the players gets X number of wild symbols for thenext two games.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a special purpose computer system 600configured with a match game according to one embodiment. Particularembodiments may be played through a gaming device in a gamingestablishment, through Internet gaming, a networked or wireless computerbased system, or through other methods.

Computer system 600 includes a bus 602, network interface 604, acomputer processor 606, a memory 608, a storage device 610, and adisplay 612. Bus 602 may be a communication mechanism for communicatinginformation. Computer processor 604 may execute computer programs storedin memory 608 or storage device 608. Any suitable programming languagecan be used to implement the routines of particular embodimentsincluding C, C++, Java, assembly language, etc. Different programmingtechniques can be employed such as procedural or object oriented. Theroutines can execute on a single computer system 600 or multiplecomputer systems 600. Further, multiple processors 606 may be used.

Memory 608 may store instructions, such as source code or binary code,for performing the techniques described above. Memory 608 may also beused for storing variables or other intermediate information duringexecution of instructions to be executed by processor 606. Examples ofmemory 608 include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),or both.

Storage device 610 may also store instructions, such as source code orbinary code, for performing the techniques described above. Storagedevice 610 may additionally store data used and manipulated by computerprocessor 606. For example, storage device 610 may be a database that isaccessed by computer system 600. Other examples of storage device 610include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a harddrive, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a flashmemory, a USB memory card, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Memory 608 or storage device 610 may be an example of a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection withcomputer system 600. The computer-readable storage medium containsinstructions for controlling a computer system to be operable to performfunctions described by particular embodiments. The instructions, whenexecuted by one or more computer processors, may be operable to performthat which is described in particular embodiments.

Computer system 600 includes a display 612 for displaying information toa computer user. Display 612 may display a user interface used by a userto interact with computer system 600.

Computer system 600 also includes a network interface 604 to providedata communication connection over a network, such as a local areanetwork (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Wireless networks may also beused. In any such implementation, network interface 604 sends andreceives electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carrydigital data streams representing various types of information.

Computer system 600 can send and receive information through networkinterface 604 across a network 614, which may be an Intranet or theInternet. Computer system 600 may interact with other computer systems600 through network 614. In some examples, client-server communicationsoccur through network 614. Also, implementations of particularembodiments may be distributed across computer systems 600 throughnetwork 614.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,“a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The above description illustrates various embodiments of the presentinvention along with examples of how aspects of the present inventionmay be implemented. The above examples and embodiments should not bedeemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate theflexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by thefollowing claims. Based on the above disclosure and the followingclaims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalentsmay be employed without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the claims.

1. A method comprising: dealing a first hand of cards for a poker game;receiving a draw input for a draw for the first hand of cards; dealingone or more cards from at least one card for an additional hand duringor after the draw for the first hand of cards; determining if a card inthe first hand matches a card in the additional hand; if the match isdetermined, performing: determining a bonus feature; and applying thebonus feature to game play of the poker game.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving a selection of cards to hold in the firsthand; dealing new cards for cards not held to form a new first hand; andapplying the bonus feature to the new first hand.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the additional hand is dealt from a separate deck of cardsfrom a deck of cards used to deal the first hand and the draw for thefirst hand.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving aselection of cards to hold in the first hand; dealing new cards forcards not held to form a new first hand; dealing the additional handafter receiving the selection; and applying the bonus feature to the newfirst hand based on the additional hand.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the bonus feature comprises: determining a firstbonus feature type based on a first match of a first card in the firsthand and the additional hand; and determining a second bonus featuretype based on a second match of a second card in the first hand and theadditional hand.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein applying comprises:applying the first bonus feature type and the second bonus feature typeto the first hand.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus featureapplies a multiplier to an award received for the poker game.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the bonus feature causes a card in the pokergame to become wild in the poker game.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising applying the bonus feature to a next game play of the pokergame rather than applying the bonus feature to the game play of thepoker game in which the match is determined.
 10. An apparatuscomprising: one or more computer processors; and a computer-readablestorage medium comprising instructions for controlling the one or morecomputer processors to be operable to: deal a first hand of cards for apoker game; receive a draw input for a draw for the first hand of cards;deal one or more cards from at least one card for an additional handduring or after the draw for the first hand of cards; determine if acard in the first hand matches a card in the additional hand; if thematch is determined, perform: determine a bonus feature; and apply thebonus feature to game play of the poker game.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, further operable to: receive a selection of cards to hold in thefirst hand; deal new cards for cards not held to form a new first hand;and apply the bonus feature to the new first hand.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the additional hand is dealt from a separate deck ofcards from a deck of cards used to deal the first hand and the draw forthe first hand.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further operable to:receive a selection of cards to hold in the first hand; deal new cardsfor cards not held to form a new first hand; deal the additional handafter receiving the selection; and apply the bonus feature to the newfirst hand based on the additional hand.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein determine the bonus feature comprises: determine a first bonusfeature type based on a first match of a first card in the first handand the additional hand; and determine a second bonus feature type basedon a second match of a second card in the first hand and the additionalhand.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein apply comprises: apply thefirst bonus feature type and the second bonus feature type to the firsthand.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bonus feature applies amultiplier to an award received for the poker game.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the bonus feature causes a card in the poker game tobecome wild in the poker game.
 18. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer systemto be operable to: deal a first hand of cards for a poker game; receivea draw input for a draw for the first hand of cards; deal one or morecards from at least one card for an additional hand during or after thedraw for the first hand of cards; determine if a card in the first handmatches a card in the additional hand; if the match is determined,perform: determine a bonus feature; and apply the bonus feature to gameplay of the poker game.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 18, further operable to: receive a selection of cards to hold inthe first hand; deal new cards for cards not held to form a new firsthand; and apply the bonus feature to the new first hand.
 20. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the additionalhand is dealt from a separate deck of cards from a deck of cards used todeal the first hand and the draw for the first hand.